H1B, H4 Visa

Hi,

I got my H1B extension for 3-Years and eligible for drop-box option. I submitted my documents on Oct-23rd at Hyderabad VFS center.

Case created on 24-Oct
Case updated on 25-Oct: Admin Processing.

Nothing changed after, normally how many days it will take after dropping documents.

Thanks,
Raja

Hello,
I did attended the VISA interview today at Chennai location.

1. Who you work for?
2. Do you work End client?
3. Who is your End client? and how long do you work for the company?
4. What's the location and Salary?
5. What's your highest degree?
6. Do you have Client Letter?

Above all questions are straight forward answers and cool. but

7. Can you provide me the pay stubs.

Ans: While I'm looking for pay stubs, he just asked me the W-2 only. But he was confused and asked, " you said you are working for YYYY X lient but W-2 shows differently(he didn't mention but I'm assuming as W-2 have the employer name). I was trying to explain that, my employer is ABC but end client is YYYY X. Finally he said, I got all what I need from you. Currently I'm refusing under 221g, but it's not permanent , will consider when we complete it.

VO kept my passport with him and gave me blue slip 221g form and check the box saying

"You application is refused for administrative Processing. The application will be reconsidered when administrative Processing is complete"

Please let me know who is in same boat and their experience?

Hello,

I had Visa interview for H1B on October 16th at Chennai Consulate. VO asked basic questions:
Employer name
Job tittle
Job responsibilities
Salary
Education background (Undergrad and Masters - Computer science)
How long with company

VO officer went inside for few minutes with my passport, and came back and asked for document that employer provides to USCIS during H1 application with job responsibilities, I gave her the document, she looked at the document and she gave me 221g blue slip highlighting couple of documents to be sent by my employer:-
• A copy of the employment contract or letter of agreement
• A detailed technical description of the projects which I will be assigned to work.

VO mentioned to me that I won't be required to come for the interview again, I will communicated through email after the process is complete to submit the passport.

I am an FT employee to a well known US based company. My employer has emailed the requested documents to the consulate on Oct 17th. It's been 12 days, but here is no update. CEAC website still shows case updated on October 16 and it says Administrative Processing. Haven't change since then.

Does anyone had similar experience, any clue how many days it will take to complete the process.
Any response is much appreciated.

Thanks

Hello Everyone,

My wife and I had our visa interview today (28th October) at the New Delhi Embassy. Our Biometrics were done on the 25th of October. We both were applying for H1B visas --- first time extension for her and renewal for me.
 
The visa interview went by quickly. Simple questions about salary, graduate degrees, year of graduation, tenure with the company etc.

Post interview, the VO told us that our visas were approved. At that point, I mentioned to her that our return tickets were for the 1st of November and would we get the passports back by then. She then told me that my wife had to undergo a SEVIS check that might take an additional day or two, so we should postpone our flight tickets by a day or two. She infact told me to book tickets for 5th November vs. the 1st November that we currently have. She then gave us a yellow slip that said that "in your case, additional admin processing pertaining to your SEVIS history must be conducted before proceeding. Most SEVIS related admin processing is resolved within two to three weeks of the visa interview and is not adverse to the visa application". It doesn't say 221G or anything like that.

Anyone else in the same boat? Or was? This is the first time we've experienced this and it is confusing. Both our status on the CEAC website show Admin Processing which is even a little more surprising as the VO clearly said to me that I was good to go, but wife had to have this SEVIS check done. Am hoping that her SEVIS check doesn't end up delaying my passport as well. But again, looking for some feedback here.

Any info will be keenly appreciated. Many thanks!

Aditya

Hi all,

I have went for my h1b visa interview on 25th oct 2019 in New Delhi with my wife.

at the time of my interview visa officer asked some common questions and we have answered appropriately.

finally the visa officer said that our visa has been approved.

but today when I tracked my visa status in ceac portal the status is showing as administrative processing.

case created date : 25th oct 2019
case updated date : 25th oct 2019

can some one please help me to understand why he status is showing as administrative processing even the visa officer said that my visa was approved.

is this common case for every one?

i am little worried about this status.

thanks in advance,

​​​​​​​vignesh

Hello All ,

Finger Prints: Oct 25, 2019
Visa Interview: Oct 28,2019

First of all, I would like to thank admin and all users in this portal for sharing experiences on day to day basis which is really helpful for me to organized my visa extension interview efficiently. Today, I have visa interview at hyderbad consulate at 10 PM but they allowed me to enter at around 9:20PM. Then at the gate, they verified my passport and validate it by asking contact number given for it and then they allowed me with other batch-mates inside. Some people as soon as enter into the consulate they were asking restroom info, which is only can be possible to go after the security checkpoint so they got be-seated. So now once my security is verified at the consulate entrance, they let me in and ask me to be seated at the queue entrance. After few minutes they ask queue members to go and form a lane before counter 6 to verified the finger print and then let us be waited in the waiting room area. While, I was waited in the waiting area , I refresh at the restroom and wash my face to look fresh before the visa interview. And after a minute or so, they called our batch mates (around 40 people) to form a queue again to go inside for Visa interview. This queue took around 22 minutes to clear before they assign counter number for visa interview, for me I got counter no#16 which is the last one and got afro american officer. Once I reach counter number 16, they were 3 people in front of me for an interview. VO first called a girl first and ask her which university, and why basic question and approved her visa right away. And then call new H1B stamping guy and also ask basic questions like which company, how many years, which location and then approved his visa but said there is 5 administrative day processing needed more before we issued you passport. After that they called a phd student who applying for F1 visa and here visa officer ask multiple question to him, like your major is different in phd and the university applying for is having different major, second question was why you choose public university compare to private university were he said public university having funds approval faster than private university and then he ask why it makes you successful candidate for F1 visa he did put effort to explain he had good academic background etc etc but this answers doesn't convince VO and his visa got rejected and he ask for any remarks but visa officer said unfortunately he cant disclose that. Now my turn came and my passport was already taken and put it in front of VO, And he ask the following questions

Visa officer smiled at me and greeted, but I also greeted him Good Morning at the same then he replied Good morning after, I feel as if though he pre-decided something and then he ask the following common basic questions
1) Which Company
Ans) said with firm voice
2) What title
Ans) Said with firm voice
3) What is your higher education
Ans) Said with firm voice
4) Then he ask me do you know the rights,
Ans) I said yes with firm voice

Then I heard the golden words, your visa is issued. I said "thank you officer" with firm voice and left.

Hi How are you doing? I am doing good how are you.
What's your profession? i am a civil engineer.
Where do you work? I said my company name
How long have you been working there? one year 5 months.
what is your salary? X per year.
What is your highest educational qualifications? Masters in civil engineering.
Where and when did you graduate? From X university in August 2007.
When did you both get married? X year month and date.
how long have you been together in USA? Since X day month and year.
Is your son a US citizen? yes.
Do you know your rights in USA? yes.

Next to my wife :
Did you join any university? No
Did you enroll in any university? No
In X year you applied for a university? Yes but i never joined the university.

We need to do some back end paperwork verification of your university admission. ( for my wife)
she said: Sir your visa is approved you will receive your visa. Your wife visa will be issued after background verification.
Have a nice day.
End of interview
**** **** **** **** **** **
We applied for a university 10 years ago but never joined due to change in my job location. we completely forgot as we never joined. Remembered when she said the year. So they said will check background.
lesson learned: if they ask any question please give a pause, think and answer. If you dont remember just ask time but dont give quick wrong answer.
Hope it will work out.
the interview is genuine good and perfect. Be prepared and answer confidently.

Fresh H1B. Was on OPT and Stem OPT and got H1B picked in the third try and got approved without RFE. Works for a US company A as direct FTE in field of study.
VAC was on Oct 23rd and Interview was on 24th, both at Chennai.
For the interview VO asked for my passport and asked following-
- How long have you been working with A?
- 3 years
- Did you work for them in India?
- No
- Give me your I797- Handed her the I797
- Whats your annual salary
- Replied as it was on LCA
- Whats your highest education level?
- Master in
- Oh did you do Masters in US?
- Yes and said university name
- Where you ever out of status on F1 ? ( this was very surprising)
- No never
- So when is your return flight (I didnt hear her clearly and requested to repeat)
- In 3 weeks time
- Oh its a very short trip then
- I am putting yours for administrative processing. Might be ready before your return flight in 1 or 2 weeks. But you never know how long it will be delayed.

Dear All

This forum has been extremely helpful in last few weeks, and I wanted to add my experience for H-1B interview as well, such that someone else might find it useful.

Timeline:
Reached New Delhi, India on 07 October, 2019.

Biometric: 09 October, 2019
Interview: 10 October, 2019

Interview Experience: My interview was at 9:15 AM at the New Delhi consulate. I reached around 8:30 AM. My father-in-law was with me so I gave him my cell phone and other belongings. I am pretty sure there is a locker facility outside now. After being dropped off, I joined the queue outside the consulate. By 9:00 AM, I was able to get into the consulate followed by a security screening. After this, I walked into a seating area with 6 rows. On the day of my interview, they were sending in one full row of people every 5-10 minutes. At around 9:30 AM I was allowed to finally get into the area inside the consulate, where the interviews occur.

Here, the first step was document check (appointment confirmation, passport, I-797A). At the next counter there was another check for fingerprinting, following which I joined the main line for interview. At this stage it was about 9:45 AM. The queue for the main line was about two full row of people before me.

My earlier experience in visa stamping was in Kolkata, where the arrangement allows one to be shielded from hearing other questions being asked. This doesn't happen at the New Delhi consulate. I was able to clearly hear all the questions being asked by the VO, and any approval/rejection. This was a nerve-wracking experience, at least for me.

My Interview:

VO: Nodded for me to walk towards her, after rejecting the last candidate
ME: Walked towards the counter, and handed her my passport and I-797A

VO looked at the I-797A for few moments and then

VO: What do you teach?
ME: Answered accordingly

VO: Is this your first H-1B
ME: I said yes, and then immediately corrected myself as this was my second H-1B. Particularly, I said, I am sorry this is my second H-1B. My first H-1B was with the University of ABC, and it started on the date MO/DD/YYYY.

VO: So did you get your PhD from University of ABC?
ME: No I didn't. I got my PhD from the University of DEF and finished in year 2013, after which I was on OPT till the date mentioned earlier.

VO: What is your highest level of education?
ME: PhD

VO: Have you or anyone else on your behalf applied for an immigration petition?
ME: Yes

VO: Who applied? University of GHI (i.e., present employer)?
ME: No I applied myself in the category of EB2, NIW

She was almost typing the entire time, and after this last question she said that my visa is approved and will be available for pickup in a week.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
From October 10, 2019 onwards my visa status was in administrative processing. This is when I realized that even if things are approved it doesn't mean you will get your visa back in a week.

October 16, 2019: Administrative Processing, Date Updated
October 17, 2019: Administrative Processing, Date Updated
October 21, 2019: Issued
October 22, 2019: Email for passport pickup
October 23, 2019: Picked up my passport
October 26, 2019 morning: Flight back to the US.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
My overall experience was positive. However, for all the time the visa status was in administrative processing, I was really stressed out and didn't end up enjoying whatever vacation I had. I was advised to relax and take it easy, but it is easier said then done. Next time, I would at the very least take three weeks of time from the date of interview. Good luck everyone!

F1>OPT>stem opt extension >h1b>h1b transfer
Biometrics : 20th October.
Interview : 22nd October .. Tuesday (Mumbai)

Questions asked:
First time on h1b?
Salary?
Role?
Highest degree?
Have you been on OPT?
Where do you live?

VO said "Your visa is approved and good luck". Gave the booklet of know ur rights.

The status on CEAC website shows administrative processing as of today. The case was last updates on the day of interview. I thought that I will get the passport by Friday since the VO verbally approved the visa.
But this is scary as I've a return ticket to US in a week's time.

Is this normal after visa was approved in interview?Anyone in similar situation? Any input is appreciated.